Middle School Enlightenment

Overview

Middle school at Al Madina School of Richmond is a time of transition from homeroom based education to departmental focused subject classes. Students will experience being with their grade-level peers with the opportunity to advance to high school level subject classes should they aspire to do so. The basis of the curriculum is the Virginia Standards of Learning along with Qur’an, Arabic and Islamic Studies curriculum that is accredited by CISNA(Council of Islamic Schools in North America).

Al Madina’s curriculum for elementary education integrates CISNA (Council of Islamic Schools in North America) guided Islamic Studies and Qur’an into the VA S.O.L.. The Standards of Learning (SOL) for Virginia Public Schools establish minimum expectations for what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade or course in English, mathematics, science, history/social science and other subjects.

We use the SOL’s as a springboard towards higher learning as it allows for the flexibility for our teachers to facilitate students further beyond the S.O.L. Standards while keeping in tune with most of the Commonwealth.

Qur’an, Arabic, and Islamic Studies (QAIS)

During the school year, emphasis will be placed on helping the students develop their Islamic identity as believers (Mu’minun) and to learn basic concepts of Islamic practices and implementing it in their daily lives.

The students will be studying five main subjects:

Our CISNA accredited curriculum grant us 6 different levels for Qur’an and Arabic. Students will progress based on their levels in learning Arabic and reading the Qur’an. All students will learn the basics of Qur’anic reading, writing, recitation with tajweed, and memorization. Students will also learn the specific Arabic vocabulary of the Qur’an to enhance their understanding of the Qur’an. In addition, as a transition into high school, middle school students will slowly be introduced to Arabic as a foreign language; however, full credit education of Arabic as a foreign language and as a separate class from Arabic for learning the Qur’an is delivered as a high school level class.

The goal for our students in QAIS is for them to be able to read, recite, write, memorize, and interpret the Qur’an by themselves with the rich background of Islamic history and tradition so that they may practice and live with the Qur’an as their guide.

English/ Language Arts

ELA – English/ Language Arts are taught in Al Madina with the baseline methodology aligned with the VA State Standard. Students in 6th through 8th grade would learn 2 methodologies of reading literature and informational texts. They would learn proper language and grammar, speaking and listening. This includes conducting presentations and writing in various forms of narration including informative texts and opinion pieces. Teachers have the flexibility to engage students in different mediums to effectively optimize their learning of any given methodology. This would include the opportunity of exploring Islamic text and integrating Islamic Studies into ELA to further explore the complexity of reading, writing, and speaking.

Mathematics

Middle school mathematics in Al Madina School of Richmond is based on the VA State Standards curriculum. The curriculum is based on giving students the ability to achieve five mathematical focuses to directly relate to the Science and Technology Fields of study: ratios & proportional relationships, numbering system, expressions & equations, geometric logic & dimensions, and statistics & probability.

The 5 mathematical focuses are applied into the following courses for different grade levels (Middle and High School are engaged in double accelerated classes ):

Grade 6: Pre-Algebra

Grade 7: Pre-Algebra or Algebra I

Grade 8: Algebra I or Geometry

Algebra I and Geometry will be counted as high school credit classes.

Science

Middle school science in Al Madina School of Richmond is based on the VA State Standards curriculum. The curriculum focuses on the ability of a student to research and cite source appropriately, conduct experimental methods systemically, analyze data using various platforms of charts and tables, and forming knowledge with the differentiation of facts and opinions. Students are encouraged to participate in our annual science fair and be reminded of the appreciation of Allah’s creation.

The science focuses are applied into the following courses for different grade levels:

Grade 6: Life Science

Grade 7: Life Science or Physical Science

Grade 8: Life Science, Physical Science, or Earth Science

Social Studies

Middle school social studies in Al Madina School of Richmond is based on the VA State Standards curriculum. The curriculum focuses on the ability of a student to cite textual evidence; identify key steps in the historical / social process; identifying basic and advanced vocabulary as it pertains to specific historical/ social domains; discerning author’s points of view in historical/ social content; integrating various visual, digital, & print text sources; and explore telling the difference between facts, opinions, and reasoned judgment.

The social studies focuses are applied into the following courses for different grade levels:

Grade 6: US History to 1865

Grade 7: US HISTORY 1865 to Present

Grade 8: CIVICS ECONOMICS

Physical Education & Health

Students at Al Madina would have the opportunity to learn physical education that would motivate them to move regularly and treat their body well. Students would understand that they must keep their body well as it is a trust given by Allah. Students will learn to stay fit through the play of physical games and develop sportsmanship and cooperation by the learning of the rules of the game and displaying fair play.

In addition to physical education, middle school students will be introduced to health class that would focus on proper hygiene as guided by sunnah. Health class would also serve to inform students to the Islamically guided psychological and social approach through the changes of puberty. All middle school physical education and health classes are segregated by gender.

Art

Students at Al Madina would have the opportunity to learn and express various medium of art. Islamic culture have always been enriched with distingushed work of art such as the Dome of the Rock, Taj Mahal and the Calligraphy of Qur’anic verses. Al Madina will incorporate such fascinating examples in addition to other activities. These activities would include, but not limited to coloring, sketching, drawing, painting, singing of nasheed, craft­ making, and calligraphy.

Technology

Middle school students at Al Madina would be given the opportunity to learn to become responsible digital citizens in the 21st century. Students would learn the proper use technology including the world wide web. This includes the ability to use basic softwares in the field of word processing, spread sheet, project presentation, installing softwares, and low level coding. This also includes using internet for proper research, knowing how to maintain hardware and software with appropriate updates, and knowing how to gain protection from general digital threat such as virus, spam, and adwares.